NCAA awaits vote next month on restructuring body

The NCAA’s board of directors will vote Aug. 7 on a modified proposal to change how the governing body works.

If approved, athletic administrators and the biggest schools would play a bigger role in rule-making. Schools then would have 60 days to override the decision.

The proposal creates a 24-member board, run primarily by presidents, to ensure the principles of college sports are enforced. But rule-making would be delegated to a new council, composed primarily of athletic directors.

Those from the five biggest conferences would have more voting power than the other five FBS football leagues. Some rules may apply only to the five major conferences.

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Here are highlights comparing alterations made to a proposal that could change the NCAA’s governance structure. The modifications were released Friday and are scheduled to be voted on Aug. 7.

Original Proposal: The five biggest football conferences — the ACC, Big 12, Big Ten, Pac-12 and SEC — would gain more autonomy over a number of key areas, including funding scholarships up to the full cost-of-attendance (money beyond tuition, room and board, books and fees) and additional academic and career counseling. Approval would require two-thirds of the 65 schools in those conferences.

What’s New: In order to be granted autonomy over any area, at least three of the five league representatives must agree along with 12 of the 20 presidents or chancellors on the board of directors. Only then can an item be considered autonomously. One representative from each of the 65 schools and three student-athletes from each conference would then vote on each proposal. Items would pass with 60 percent of the 80 votes (48) and a simple majority of support from schools in at least three of the five conferences or a simple majority of all votes (41) and a simple majority from schools in four of five conferences. The board will not allow rules changes for transfers to be considered. The five major conferences would have until Oct. 1 to create their first list of proposals.

Original Proposal: All 32 Division I conferences would have a say in any legislative matters not deemed “autonomous.” These areas would include championship administration and policy, oversight of membership standards, proposals that require consideration by all conferences and management of sports or topic-specific studies intended to formulate recommendations for action by the council. Voting rights would be delegated by the new board to a newly-created council and would include two athlete representatives. The voting would be weighted, with the five conferences and their schools accounting for 38 to 40 percent of the vote.

What’s New: Nothing.

Original Proposal: The board would continue to have 17 presidents or chancellors as members but would add an athletic director, faculty athletics representative, senior women’s administrator and an athlete to the voting bloc. The possibility of adding voices from outside college campuses has been discussed but is not part of the current proposal.

What’s New: The board would increase to 24 members with one president from each of the five biggest conferences, one president from each of the other five FBS leagues, five total presidents from FCS schools and five presidents from non-football playing Division I schools (total of 20). The other four members would be the chair of the Division I student-athlete advisory committee, the chair of the newly created council, an appointee of the executive board of the Division I Faculty Athletics Representative Association and an appointee of the executive committee of the National Association for Collegiate Woman Athletics Administrators.

Original Proposal: The Legislative and Leadership Councils would be replaced by one council comprised of 38 athletic directors, faculty athletic representatives, senior women’s administrators or conference commissioners, one representing each Division I league. Two athletes also would have privileges. The recommendation is that 60 percent of the school leaders be athletic directors.

What’s New: Two faculty athletic representatives are added to the voting bloc for a total of 40. Increasing the council’s voting members would change the weighted voting to give the five major conference reps 37.5 percent of the total vote, the other FBS league would get 18.8 percent, FCS and non-football playing schools would have 37.5 percent, while athletes and the designated faculty athletic reps would each account for 3.1 percent.

Original Proposal: The NCAA would reduce the large number of current subcommittees to three: One focused on academics, one on competition and student well-being, and one to assist the council with its legislative role.

What’s New: Not much other than the formal idea of having a Committee on Academics that reports to the board and is still expected to maintain a close relationship with the council and the other two subcommittees. Those details will not be ready for a vote in August.

Original Proposal: University presidents would maintain control on oversight and strategic decisions through the board of directors, but the council would focus on operational and legislative issues. In addition, the five power conferences would be better able to address criticisms regarding athletes’ well-being. Athletes and athletic directors also would get a louder voice in the process.